Christian Pulisic Names Inspiration Behind His Ambitious Retirement Plans

The USMNT’s star player is enjoying a great 2025–26 season to date.

Christian Pulisic is having a great season in Milan. / Image Photo Agency/Getty Images

Christian Pulisic has outlined his plans for a “long career” at the highest level before retiring, citing Real Madrid legend and current AC Milan teammate Luka Modrić as an example he can draw inspiration from over the next 10 years.

27-year-old Pulisic has crossed paths with some of the greatest European players of this generation. The U.S. men’s national team star has been teammates of Marco Reus, Thiago Silva, N’Golo Kante and Mats Hummels—all of whom have impacted his career in some way.

But it’s his newest teammate in Milan, the Ballon d’Or winner of 2018, who is the model of professionalism and is still going strong the age of 40. Modrić joined Milan on a free transfer this summer, uniting with Pulisic, and the Croatian is showing no signs of slowing down or losing his touch in the center of midfield—arguably the most physically demanding position of all.

Modrić’s incredible longevity appears to be inspiring Pulisic to enjoy a lengthy career of his own—though the USMNT’s marquee player stopped short of putting an age on when he might decide to hang up his boots.

“I’m thinking like, 10 years down the line, I want to have a long career,” Pulisic said to Paramount+. “I want to go as long [as I can]. I look at Luka in my locker room and this guy’s 40 and he’s putting in 10 out of 10 performances.

“I’m just wondering how he does it. I hope I can keep up.”

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Pulisic Discusses Current Form, Retirement Plans

Chrstian Pulisic was Serie A Player of the Month in September. / Chris Ricco/Getty Images

Pulisic was reluctant to classify his strong form with the Rossoneri as him being in his prime, but admitted his conditioning is perhaps at the best level it’s ever been at.

“I definitely [think] I’m at a good age in my career,” he said. “I feel at maybe my physical best ... I feel I’ve learned a lot and I’m at a really good place. I always like to say ‘I hope my prime is the next year,’ because that’s always my goal. But if this is my prime, I want to enjoy it ... I definitely feel like I’m playing some of my best football at the moment.”

The winger has six goals and two assists in nine appearances in all competitions so far, but has been hampered by a hamstring injury suffered with the USMNT in October. Pulisic was left out of the November squad to fully recover.

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Pulisic also touched on his plans to move back to the U.S. following the conclusion of his playing career—he’s spent the entirety of his senior career in Germany, England and Italy, first joining Borussia Dortmund at the age of 17 having moved to Europe before his 16th birthday.

“I’ve thought about it,” Pulisic admitted about returning home. “I definitely picture myself spending life after my career in the U.S. ... Just to be home is going to be nice.” 

For now, Pulisic is front and centre of the USMNT’s charge towards the 2026 FIFA World Cup that is being co-hosted by Mexico and Canada.

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